Arms Quote by Fareed Zakaria
“But as the arms-control scholar Thomas Schelling once noted, two things are very expensive in international life: promises when they succeed and threats when they fail.”
About This Quote
Promises and threats are costly in international relations; their success or failure determines their value.
In simple terms: Promises and threats are expensive in global politics.
Key Takeaway
Weigh diplomatic tools carefully.
Themes
politics
strategy
trust
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
political
educational
When to use this quote
- diplomacy
- conflict resolution
- policy making
Key Concepts
international law
deterrence theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders ensure promises are kept?
- When are threats justified?
A Different Perspective
Threats can backfire if misused.
![“President Obama's calls for "a world without nuclear weapons" and for a nuclear "no first use" policy and for a nuclear Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty are antithetical to the doctrine of "peace through strength" and looks like weakness.[17] Indeed, in the context of growing and vociferous nuclear…” quote by Peter Pry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/369/peter-pry-137716_bad-guy_president-obama-s-calls-for-a-world-with_427633.jpg)
